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Nweke Urges FG to Honour Late Engr Olawale Ige

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A call has been made to the Federal Government through the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy for the naming of the corporate headquarters of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) after the former pioneer Minister of Communications, late Engr. Olawale Adeniji Ige.

This call was contained in an address presented at the public unveiling of the latest industry book: Sagacity of a digital revolution by Remmy Nweke by the author, while welcoming guests to the event co-hosted with the 2022 Nigeria DigitalSENSE Forum on Internet Governance Forum at the Welcome Centre Hotels, International Airport Road, Lagos.

Nweke, who is also the Lead Consulting Strategist at DigitalSENSE Africa and Group Executive Editor, ITREALMS Media group, the role of late Engr. Olawale Ige cannot be over-emphasised.

According to him, late Engr. Olawale Ige died on May 9, 2022 at the age of 83 years, and has since been buried on May 20 in Ogbomosho; deserved to be honoured even posthumously considering all his pioneering efforts within the telecommunications sector as indigenous engineer.

He recalled that late Engr. Ige as the former Director-General, Ministry of Communications who later became a Minister of Communications in 1990 and was reappointed a Minister to coordinate the Ministry of Transport, Aviation, and Communications in 1992; having earlier prompted the Military authorities to create the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) which was established under Decree no. 75 in November 1992.

Pa Ige, he said, had between 1999 and 2010 served as a member of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the first Director of Digital Bridge Institute (DBI), Abuja. Engr. Ige was a member of the First World Telecommunications Advisory Group of the International Telecommunications Union with headquarters in Geneva and the pioneer chairman of Nigeria Internet Group (NIG).

“Born on 13th October 1938 in Lagos, he began his working career with Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation in Ibadan as Engineering Assistant in 1957 before proceeding to the United Kingdom to study Electrical Engineering in 1961.

“Upon his return to Nigeria in 1967, he began his working career with the Federal Ministry of Communications (Posts and Communications Department) as an Engineer and rose to become the first coordinating Director (Internal) NITEL and subsequently the General Manager, Long Distance Communications, NITEL in 1985.

“He started his consultancy practice in 1993 and was appointed a consultant on Regional African Satellite Communications implementation.

“In 1979, he was conferred with the national honour of Member of the Federal Republic (MFR) for his contribution to the growth and development of the country,” he said.

Further, he recollected that Pa Ige, had presided over various developmental initiatives and was in 2011 chaired the annual Nigeria DigitalSENSE Forum on Internet for Development (IG4D) and the first Internet Protocol version Six IPv6 Roundtable by DigitalSENSE Africa among others.

A minute of silence was equally observed in honour of late baba telecom, Engr. Olawale Adeniji Ige by participants at the 2022 Nigeria DigitalSENSE Forum with the theme: ‘5G: Enthroning Internet Governance for Digital Economy.’

The 2022 NDSF and public book unveiling was a twin event presided over by the President of Medallion Data Centre Limited and President, Association of Telecom Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Engr. Ikechukwu Nnamani, who was represented by Mr. Olatunji Suleiman with a keynote presented the Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, represented by Engr. Abraham Oshadami, head of Spectrum Management at NCC alongside the Director-General, National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) Mallam Musa Balarabe, represented by the Lagos Zonal Director, Dr. Chibuike Ogwumike who led a delegation from NBC among others.

Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Engr. Gbenga Adebayo reviewed the book: Sagacity of a digital revolution, while the chief unveiler was the chief executive of Amano Investments WA Limited and President, Mandilas International Trade Center, Lagos, Chief Anthony Amechi Okeke.


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Ugo Onwuaso is an ICT enthusiast. He believes technology should be used for general good. He holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree from the Lagos state University. Dear Reader, Your support matters. But we believe that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. That is why, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and finance and how they affect lives. Our incisive and analytical view of how technology news affects the daily life help individuals and organizations make up their minds. Quality journalism costs money. Today, we're asking that you support us to do more. Kindly support our effort to deliver technology and finance journalism to everyone in the world. Donate as little as N1,000. Bank transfers can be made to: UBA Plc 1017156876 Communication Week Media Ltd

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Google, Meta Criticize Australia’s Rush to Pass Social Media Ban for Under-16s

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Tech giants Google and Meta have called on the Australian government to delay a proposed bill that would ban children under 16 from accessing most social media platforms.

The companies argue that more time is needed to assess the bill’s impact and await results from an age-verification trial.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s government aims to pass the legislation—one of the strictest globally on children’s social media use—by Thursday, the final day of the parliamentary year. Introduced last week, the bill was open for public submissions for just one day, drawing criticism for its expedited timeline.

The proposed law would require social media companies, rather than parents or children, to enforce age-verification measures, potentially using biometrics or government-issued identification. Companies found in breach could face fines of up to A$49.5 million ($32 million).

Meta criticised the bill as “inconsistent and ineffective” without clear results from the age-verification trial. Google echoed the sentiment, urging for a measured approach to ensure Australians understand the implications of the legislation.

TikTok raised “significant concerns” over the lack of consultation with experts, social media platforms, mental health organisations, and young people. “Novel policies must be drafted thoroughly to ensure their success,” the company stated.

Elon Musk’s X also opposed the bill, arguing it could infringe on children’s human rights, including their freedom of expression and access to information. Musk, a vocal advocate for free speech, accused the government of using the bill as a backdoor to control internet access.

The opposition Liberal Party has signalled support for the bill, while some independent lawmakers have criticised the government for rushing its passage. A Senate committee report on the bill is expected on Tuesday.

If passed, the bill will place Australia at the forefront of regulating children’s online activity, but its swift progression and potential implications have sparked a heated debate over privacy, freedom, and the role of government in digital spaces.


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Unforgettable Moments and Big Wins at the TECNO SPARK 30 City Tour

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TECNO SPARK 30 city tour made a memorable stop at Ikeja City Mall on November 15th, bringing with it an infectious energy that electrified the entire city.

As the event unfolded, it was clear that this was more than just a product showcase – it was an immersive experience designed to thrill and delight.

The day’s festivities kicked off with the iconic TECNO SPARK 30 transformer bus, painted in bold red and blue hues, rolling into action.

The bus served as the hub for a games grotto, where fans immersed themselves in thrilling digital games and adventures.

Outside, the excitement spilled over, with attendees engaging in friendly competitions of Jenga, Monopoly, Ludo, and chess.

These games sparked laughter, playful banter, and a sense of camaraderie among strangers.

As the games heated up, so did the rewards. Purchasers of the TECNO SPARK 30 Pro enjoyed a N20,000 discount and a chance to win up to 100% cashback by participating in the games.

The atmosphere was electric, with cheers of victory, enthusiastic applause, and celebratory high-fives.

The excitement reached a fever pitch with the arrival of tech and lifestyle creator Kagan, accompanied by Big Brother Naija Season 9 stars Victoria and Ruthee.

The trio dove into the action, competing in games and claiming victory. They were awarded TECNO-branded gift items, earning cheers and applause from the thrilled crowd.

The event was an unforgettable experience, leaving a lasting impression on all who attended.


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Sophos Report Highlights Cyber Risks During Holiday Shopping Season

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With Black Friday and Cyber Monday around the corner, we’re entering a high-risk period for cybersecurity.
A recent Sophos report highlights that malicious emails were the second most common root cause of ransomware attacks in critical sectors, responsible for 25% of cases.

During peak shopping days, this threat intensifies.

Here’s what happens: with the surge in online deals, more employees may be shopping from their work computers, feeling that Cyber Monday is a legitimate time to do so.

This increases the risk of them clicking more freely and potentially exposing the organization to malicious links or phishing attacks.

To keep your organization safe, encourage your team to follow these simple tips:

• Use an ad blocker – Advertisements are not only tracking your every movement and collecting enough information on your habits to make the FBI blush, but they are also a major source of malicious links and deceptive content on the internet. Not only is your browsing safer, but also faster and uses less bandwidth. Two of our favorites are uBlock Origin and Ghostery.
• Use private browsing or incognito mode – To prevent your shopping habits and interests from following you around from site to site (and potentially revealing what gifts you might be purchasing to others using your device, bonus!), you should enable private browsing (Firefox) or incognito mode (Chrome). This will block tracking cookies and help the internet forget your travels as the waves wash away your footprints in the sand.
• Make your browser “privacy smart” – The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) provides a browser extension called Privacy Badger designed to automatically make all the right choices around browsing whilst maintaining our privacy and blocking invisible trackers.
• Avoid using one account on multiple services – When logging into an e-commerce site it is often tempting to use the “Sign in with Facebook” or “Sign in with Google” button. While it takes a few more minutes to create a new login, it will provide more privacy as you are not sharing all of the sites you shop at with these tech giants.
• Use guest login when available – In addition to letting you use an account from other websites, many have an option to use a guest login rather than creating a new account. This is a great option if you don’t expect to need technical support or to do business on a recurring basis. Fewer passwords, fewer personal details, fewer problems if they get hacked.
• Don’t save card details – Many e-commerce sites will default to storing your credit card information in your profile for your “convenience” (or their hope you’ll shop there again). They can’t lose what they don’t have, so tell them not to store your credit card unless it is absolutely necessary.
• Use temporary card numbers – Many financial institutions now offer temporary or one-time use credit card numbers. You can open the app on your phone or in your browser and get a single-use disposable credit card number preventing card fraud and tracking when merchants share card processors. Sometimes you’re even able to specify a card limit per temporary number to further protect your account.
• Use credit, not debit – All of us need to be wary of overspending during the holidays, but it is best to leave the debit card at home. Credit cards offer significantly more protection against online fraud, and you are in the power position in a dispute. You can simply not pay your bill while disputing the charge, rather than having criminals directly drain your bank account of your hard-earned cash.
• Beware of direct messages via social media/chat apps – With modern generative AI technology it is almost trivial to create an entire fake online store and lure people to share their personal information and payment data with you. It’s safest to shop at established sites or those personally recommended to you by friends and family. Many unsolicited messages lead to data collection or theft.

• Don’t click deals in email that look too good to be true or are from businesses you don’t have accounts from – these could be phishing emails hoping to bait you into clicking links to bogus, malicious web sites.

This season, small steps can make a big difference in protecting against cyber threats.


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